. Twenty one districts are severely affected with about 17800 villages going dry.
Water is so scarce that people are getting limited supplies about twice a week in most of the affected areas. Hospitals are unable to perform surgeries in Latur and other district capitals of the state due to irregular power supply. Huge tracts of agricultural land are barren and fodder is scarce. Thousands of cattle are dying due to hunger and water scarcity. To compound matters, the BJP state government’s decision to ban the slaughter of all cattle and sale and consumption of beef has added to the woes of the drought affected farmers as they are unable to sell the animals which they are unable to look after. In fact, they are at the mercy of the government, yet even after 1500 farmer suicides since last year, the government have not moved to initiate some drastic measures to alleviate their acute distress.
Over one thousand one hundred farmers have committed suicide in the state in 2015. It is reported that on an average, three farmers have been committing suicide per day this year. Seven million farmers are affected. That adds up to about atleast 30 million people, about forty percent of the population. Yet the government is oblivious to their plight. It’s CM, Devendra Phadnavis’ is obsessed about making everyone chant, ‘Bharat Mata Ki jai’ or else…A case of Nero fiddling while Rome was burning?
In this context, the decision of the BCCI to continue with this year’s IPL matches in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur smacks of not only arrogance but also total lack of sensitivity and concern for the suffering masses of people in the drought affected areas of the state. By its own admission, a staggering 70 lakh litres of water is required to maintain the cricket pitches in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur just for the current IPL season. The cricket body and its officials seem to be only concerned at filling it’s coffers with the huge revenues anticipated holding the IPL matches.
The corporate world which spends hundreds of crores in TV advertisements which are shown during the matches also has a vested interest in the game. It expects huge returns by way of renewed demand for its products including TV sets and smartphones. And our cricket players have only a single track mind, play cricket and more cricket and keep raking in the moolah. The lure of lucre is too attractive. Who cares about the suffering farmers and their families? Some lip sympathy of course, that’s about it..
Have the BCCI, cricketers and corporate houses located in the state ever thought of these poor farmers? They could help them by donating generously and arrange for water supplies from other states. They can donate money to get urgently needed food and medicines for the drought affected people. How can one be blind to the sufferings of one’s fellowmen, when they can make a difference?
Hopefully, the High Court seized of the matter, will act swiftly. The BCCI which was the butt of ridicule by the judges of the apex court recently must be brought down to earth and made aware of priorities. Cricket can wait. People and their lives are much more precious. This cricket crazy nation should wake up to the plight of the drought hit in Maharasthra and other states and do its bit to alleviate their distress. Forget cricket for now. You should have had enough with the World T20 held recently in the country. Life is much more important than entertainment, which is what IPL ultimately is.
